As the librarian and literature teacher in the elementary division of a private school in Rochester, New York and as an adjunct associate professor at the Warner Graduate School of Education, University of Rochester, Joy has translated theories of literary and literacy learning into classroom practice. Over the past thirty years, she has explored literature with children, with graduate students who plan to become teachers, and with experienced teachers who want to learn more about literature and literacy.
Joy is the author of a number of professional texts including Literary Discussion in the Elementary School (NCTE, 2002) and From Literature to Literacy: Bridging Learning in the Library and the Primary Grade Classroom (IRA, 2002) written in collaboration with a colleague, Marilyn Fenster.